Consumer Group Asks DOJ to Launch Criminal Investigation over J&J Destroyed Documents in Transvaginal Mesh Litigation, Notes Parker Waichman LLP

News provided by

Parker Waichman LLP

Apr 02, 2014, 16:15 ET


New York, NY (PRWEB) April 02, 2014 -- Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective medical devices, notes that a consumer advocacy group has requested a potential criminal probe into the destruction of documents related to Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon transvaginal mesh litigation currently underway in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (In re: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair Systems Products Liability Litigation - MDL No. 2327). According to a March 26, 2014 report by ABC News, the Corporate Action Network made this request in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder; the group asked that he use the U.S. Department of Justice’s subpoena powers to investigate whether or not the destruction of documents was criminal in nature, including potential obstruction of justice and destroying records in a federal probe.

According to court records, U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Eifert found J&J’s destruction of documents to be negligent, but not necessarily intentional. However, she also stated in a February 4th Order that jurors should know about the destroyed documents. The final decision will be up to U.S. District Judge Joseph Goodwin, who is overseeing the federal litigation.

“We are continuously fighting for the rights of victims in the transvaginal mesh litigation, and will keep following these developments closely,” said Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney at Parker Waichman LLP. The firm continues to offer free legal advice to women who were injured after receiving transvaginal mesh implants.
Court documents show that Ethicon is facing over 17,000 transvaginal mesh lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. There are also 4,700 additional cases filed in New Jersey’s Atlantic Court Superior Court, records show. There, the first pelvic mesh trial ended last March with an $11 million award for the Plaintiff.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the most common complications associated with transvaginal mesh include:

  • Mesh erosion through the vagina (also called exposure, extrusion, or protrusion)
  • Pain
  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
  • Organ perforation
  • Urinary problems

Court documents show that Johnson & Johnson is just one of several manufacturers facing lawsuits over transvaginal mesh injuries. Other litigations are underway against American Medical Systems, Inc. (MDL No. 2325); Boston Scientific Corp., (MDL No. 2326); and C.R. Bard, Inc., (MDL No. 2187)

Parker Waichman LLP continues to offer free lawsuit consultations to victims of transvaginal mesh injuries. If you or a loved one experienced complications following mesh-related surgery for POP or stress urinary incontinence (SUI), please visit the firm's transvaginal mesh injury page at yourlawyer.com. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

Contact:
Parker Waichman LLP
Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney
1+ (800) LAW-INFO
1+ (800) 529-4636
http://www.yourlawyer.com

Gary Falkowitz, Parker Waichman LLP, http://yourlawyer.com, +1 (800) 529-4636, [email protected]